Here's an idea for a site improvement project that everyone could participate in. Have you ever been browsing the site, seen a show with an interesting title and wondered what it was about? Wouldn't it be handy to have a little text file in the folder with the episodes containing some basic information about the show? It think this would be very helpful to everyone, but especially to newcomers, if each series in the collection had a one- or two-paragraph synopsis, saved in a .txt file, to go in the folder with the episodes.

The paragraphs would take very little time to write and with many members contributing, it would take no time to get a synopsis for each series. Note, I'm not talking about doing a synopsis for each episode, but for each series, that is, a synopsis for CBSRMT, one for Suspense, One for Escape, One for the Adventures of Superman, etc., etc., etc.

A synopsis should include the following information: The title of the show, year(s) it aired, prominent personalities (writers, producers, directors, actors, etc.) associated with it, and a brief description, including principal characters if appropriate, and maybe a note of trivia. As an example, here's a synopsis that could go with CBS Radio Mystery Theatre:

CBS Radio Mystery Theatre (1974-1982) Produced by Himan Brown, hosted by E.G. Marshall (1974-1981) and Tammy Grimes (1982). This long running anthology series featured stories of mystery, horror, and suspense, sometimes drawn from literary classics. A total of 1,399 episodes were produced.

Brad is on board with this idea. He said the descriptions can be posted right on this topic thread. As they are done, he can put them in a text file at the top of the appropriate series folder. Such as, 0001_Series_Description.

This will be a fun and easy project. If you're interested in helping out, just pick a show, write a synopsis, and post it here. If you have a favorite, pick it early before somebody gets there first.

Gunsmoke (1952 - 1961) - CBS Radio Network - Produced and Directed by Norman Macdonnell. The series featured top-notch acting and well-developed scripts that set it apart from many other shows, not only Westerns; however, it was the sound effects that stood out the most. Listen carefully and one can hear many levels of sound that really helps transport the listener back to the old west.
There are 482 regular broadcasts with additional recordings which include east coast versions, out-takes, and bloopers.
Cast: William Conrad (Marshall Matt Dillon), Parley Baer (Chester Wesley Proudfoot), Georgia Ellis (Kitty Russell), Howard McNear (Charles "Doc" Adams)

The Six Shooter was a weekly old-time radio program in the USA. It was created by Frank Burt, who also wrote many of the episodes, and lasted only one season of 39 episodes on NBC (Sept. 20, 1953-June 24, 1954). Through March 21, 1954 it was broadcast Sundays at 8 p.m. Beginning April 1, 1954 through the final episode it was on Thursdays at 8 p.m.

James Stewart starred as Britt Ponsett, a drifting cowboy in the final years of the wild west. Episodes ranged from straight western drama to whimsical comedy. A trademark of the show was Stewart's use of whispered narration during tense scenes that created a heightened sense of drama and relief when the situation was resolved.

Some of the more prominent actors to perform on the program included Parley Baer, Virginia Gregg, Harry Bartell, Howard McNear, Jeanette Nolan, Dan O'Herlihy, Alan Reed, Marvin Miller and William Conrad (often credited as "Julius Krelboyne" because he was also the star of CBS' Gunsmoke at the time). Some did multiple episodes playing different characters.

Each episode opened with the announcer (Hal Gibney; John Wald in later episodes) stating: The man in the saddle is angular and long-legged. His skin is sun-dyed brown. The gun in his holster is gray steel and rainbow mother-of-pearl, its handle unmarked. People call them both "the Six Shooter".

The haunting theme music was "Highland Lament" by series composer Basil Adlam. Jack Johnstone was the producer-director for NBC Radio, in association with Revue Productions.